Hello this is my first post on this forum, I've looked at it as a spectator before, there's quite a lot of knowledge and some people have a lot of technical answers about petroleum products on this Website it's pretty impressive and interesting.... about a year ago I switched from Napa full synthetic to Texaco havoline long life synthetic in my 2022 Dodge ram 1500 with a hemi, I've noticed at oil changes now (which is done about every 5,000 miles) with a Fram TG, the oil seems to be a quite a bit darker then it usually was . I'm making sure my air filters are nice and clean , my friend told me Havoline has more Molly then the Napa oil, my question is could extra Molly in this oil make used oil look a bit darker , thanks
Would the additive Molly make used oil darker?
- Thread starter snowdust
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Does dark oil concern you?
When I check the dipstick at 5K miles it’s honey colored, then I drain it and it’s black in oil drain pan
When I check the dipstick at 5K miles it’s honey colored, then I drain it and it’s black in oil drain pan
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It's not your air filters.
Most likely it is something about that oil. Maybe the additives turn like you suggest, or maybe it cleans better.
I don't think it's a concern at all.
Most likely it is something about that oil. Maybe the additives turn like you suggest, or maybe it cleans better.
I don't think it's a concern at all.
Agreed, Havoline is a quality oil.
I have two thoughts. Some oil additives, not just moly, turn the color of oil dark. Some oils do a better job of cleaning and will eventually settle down. I wouldn't worry about it.
I've had the same experience. Check the dipstick, clean. Change the oil, it comes out dark.
I've had the same experience. Check the dipstick, clean. Change the oil, it comes out dark.
I'm running HPL in a turbocharged Kona right now, it was considerably darker coming out of the bottle. It's darker on the dipstick as well. I attribute it to the additives.
The most about what? Why his oil turns dark?
I cannot speak to your particular experience but I can tell you about mine using the Liquid Moly lifter cleaning additive. I had a lifter fail in my Dodge 4.7 litre V8. I replaced it and immediately starting using the additive I described with every oil change. I can tell you that the additive definitely made my oil darker. I suspect that the engine is cleaner, and that the additive was doing it's job more agressively cleaning the inside of the engine.
The truck in question with this engine had about 120k miles on it when all this started. I now have over 150k on it and I am still seeing the same color change with every oil change. Good Luck to you, and I hope you have positive results that you want.
The truck in question with this engine had about 120k miles on it when all this started. I now have over 150k on it and I am still seeing the same color change with every oil change. Good Luck to you, and I hope you have positive results that you want.
Different oil, different add-pack. You really can't judge much based on color or oil darkness.
Exactly.
A UOA or rather a series of UOAs can hint at something heading in the wrong direction (coolant leak, bearing shedding excess metal, sand ingress, etc). But likely won't tell you why one brand of oil darkens perceptibly more quickly than another brand.
It's a non worry. Thanks for joining!!
Thank you for all the replies it does make a lot of sense with different additives probably some adding more to the cleaning process I will take a sample and send it to the Blackstone labs just to get analyze I might even try to do that with a Napa synthetic just to see what the major differences would be in additives again thanks for the replies
In general additives don’t do much for cleaning. That’s typically determined by the base stock composition. Oil detergents for example are not cleaners.
I wouldn't assume anything based on oil color. Molybdenum dithiocarbomate (MoDTC) serves a secondary role as an anti-oxidant. Thus, it would have the opposite effect of preventing darkening due to oxidation. However, there's many reasons an oil can turn black such as cleaning of carbonaceous deposits, increased soot, and even additive reactions. Some ashless dispersants turn dark from UV exposure (from combustion events) making the oil appear black and oxidized when it actually isn't.
Don't use Blackstone. Send the sample to Polaris or WearCheck as they include TBN and oxidation in the base analysis. They also use gas chromatography (GC) for fuel and water dilution where as Blackstone does not.
Don't use Blackstone. Send the sample to Polaris or WearCheck as they include TBN and oxidation in the base analysis. They also use gas chromatography (GC) for fuel and water dilution where as Blackstone does not.
Blackstone?
no.
Cleaning process? What is being cleaned?
How would you see differences changing oils? What conclusion? I mean sure it may or may not get dark quicker, but one still could not conclude much.
Think of the oil like a steak. You can't tell if it's rare or well done by the sear. You have to cut into it.
And if you send a sample back for retesting cause it’s wrong the tech will likely put it in his trousers before giving it back.
Molly?
Moly is "short" for Mo, Molybdenum, caps not needed for moly. And looks sharper to write Mo or Molybdenum dithiocarbomate (MoDTC) which is the actual modern, oil soluble compound additive.
Moly is "short" for Mo, Molybdenum, caps not needed for moly. And looks sharper to write Mo or Molybdenum dithiocarbomate (MoDTC) which is the actual modern, oil soluble compound additive.
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Yeah, I saw the title and was like "MDMA in the oil? Hmmmm, are we getting this HEMI rev'd up for a good time tonight?"
